An Okinawa woman has been commended by the Japan Foundation for her efforts to educate Amerasian children, who often struggle to deal with complex issues related to family and identity.

In 1998, Midori Thayer founded the AmerAsian School in Okinawa (AASO), to offer shelter to children born to American fathers and Japanese mothers. These children often face bullying at school due to differences in language and appearance and consequently drop out.

"Okinawa has hosted the majority of U.S. military bases in Japan and has been discriminated against by people of the mainland, and Amerasians even suffer discrimination by the people of Okinawa," Thayer, 56, said.